Handout past simple

Use Past Simple to Common time
talk about: expressions:
• an action that yesterday/the day
before yesterday,
happened at a last week/month/year
definite time in winter/summer,
the past last Friday/Monday,
I was hungry after three hours/days/
school yesterday. weeks/months/years
We bought a new ago,
computer last week. in 2010, 1973, 1649
Carol stayed in
bed last Friday.

Put the verbs in the past form in the correct column.

Change the sentences into negative Put the verbs in brackets in the
or interrogative. correct form.

1. Sally left the window open last night. (-) 1. When I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (be) a little girl
_______________________________ I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (not, drink) coffee.

2. I washed up the dishes after dinner. (?) 2. Mr. Parker _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (come)
_______________________________ back home an hour ago.

3. The kids woke up early last Saturday. (?) 3. Where _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Greg and
_______________________________ Helen, meet) last week?

4. We flew to Dublin last month. (-) 4. I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (share) a room with
_______________________________ my sister when we _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (be)
kids.
5. Robert crossed the road in a hurry. (-)
_______________________________ 5. Peter _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (fall) off his
bike last Saturday.
6. Jane and Nan ran after the dog. (?)
_______________________________ 6. Who _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (you, talk) to in
the corridor this morning?

7. We _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (not, build) our
house by ourselves.

8. Nick and Terry _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (drive)
to Southampton last weekend.

9. What _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (your mum, cook)
for dinner yesterday?

10. My grandparents _ _ _ _ _ _ _
(spend) their honeymoon in Italy.

11. Why _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (not, Amy, bring)
her project?

12. Dave _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (smile) at me.
13. I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (dream) about a new

MP3 player last night.

Let’s talk about ‘WHAT IF’

What would you do if you won Conversation cards If you had three wishes, what
the lottery? would you wish for?
What would you do if you were
Explain in detail. stranded on a desert island? Why?
Which 3 things would you like
What would you do if you found If an alien space ship invited
a fat wallet on the street? If you could be an animal for you for a ride, would you go?
one day, what would it be? Why or why not?
Explain why.

If you could travel in time, How long would you like to live If you were born 50 years
where would you go? if you had the choice? earlier, how would your life be
different?
Explain why. Explain.
If you were the leader of your
If you could start over your If you had divine (= godlike) country, what would you do or
life, what would you change? powers, how would you change change?
the world?

If you had the chance to be What would you do if your dog If you could commit any crime
born again, in which country ate your homework just before and get away with it, what
would you like to be born? going to school? would you do?

If you received one million What would you do if you had How would you feel if you
dollar which you couldn’t spend only one day to live? found out that you were
on yourself, what would you adopted?
spend it on?

1 3 5
2 4

What would you do if … # 6

… another student asked to copy your homework? 7

… you were bullied at school or work? 8

… got lost in the forest at night?

… someone stole your bicycle?

… you saw a friend stealing something?

… you were stuck in a lift?

… your mobile phone fell in the toilet?

… a friend or relative stole money from your wallet?